On Friday week Mr. Bryce, replying to a deputation of
the Irish Presbyterian Church, made known the decision of the Government in regard to the University question. Personally, he would have preferred an enlarged Trinity College, Dublin, BO as to bring all Ireland together in one College and University ; but as that was impossible, the Government bad to choose between a new College in the Royal University and a new College in an enlarged University of Dublin. This solution, which was that of the majority of the Commissioners, they had now resolved to carry out. The Royal University would be dissolved, and its funds applied for the purpose of a new College in the University of Dublin, which, while entirely free from any kind of theological test to be imposed either on Governors, teachers, or students, would be mainly Roman Catholic, though it would give no more to Roman Catholics than Protestants already had in Trinity College. The Governors of the new College would be, in the first instance, appointed by the Crown, and thereafter partly by the Crown and partly elected by the teaching staff and the graduates belonging or attached to the new College. The Government proposed to start the new College with a grant sufficient for buildings and with an annual sum adequate to modern educational requirements. Under the new scheme the University of Dublin would be enlarged to become a national University for Ireland, including as constituent Colleges (1) Trinity College, (2) the new College in Dublin, (8) the Queen's Colleges in Cork and Belfast. The governing body or Senate of the University would, however, have the power to affiliate other institutions—Mr. Bryce mentioned the Arts Faculty at Maynootb, Magee College at Derry, and possibly Queen's College, Galway—with a share in degrees and academie privileges, but without representation on the Senate.
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